MAPPING BEGINS FOR PATNA-SASARAM GREENFIELD EXPRESSWAY

MAPPING BEGINS FOR PATNA-SASARAM GREENFIELD EXPRESSWAY

24-JULY-ENG 4

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA---------------------Alignment mapping work for the Patna-Sasaram Greenfield Expressway project commenced on Wednesday in the Kosihan *Mauza* (revenue village) of Koilwar block.

As soon as the mapping began, affected farmers voiced their objections regarding the determination of compensation. The farmers argued that while houses have stood on their land for years, the compensation is being calculated based on the land classification of "*Bhith*" (upland/dry land) recorded in land records dating back 60 years.

Villager Pintu Chaudhary stated that compensation for the land where houses are built should be paid at residential rates.

Following the farmers' protest, Circle Officer Uday Pratap Singh and Chandi Station House Officer (SHO) Rakesh Kumar Roshan arrived at the site and spoke with the villagers. The officials assured them that action would be taken in accordance with the rules and that the farmers' interests would be safeguarded.

Subsequently, with the farmers' consent and in the presence of the police, the alignment mapping work was initiated. During this process, obstructions in the alignment area were removed using machinery, and the land was leveled.

Santosh Kumar, Project Manager at Galfar—the company constructing the Greenfield Expressway—stated that the expressway, being built at a cost of approximately ₹3,750 crore, will run from Sadisopur in Patna district to Suara in Sasaram.

The project aims for completion within 30 months. Once constructed, the journey from Patna to Sasaram will take approximately two hours. He mentioned that the expressway would pass through the *Mauzas* of Khangaon, Kosihan, Manpur, Gundi, and Jalpura in the Koilwar block. As part of the project, a modern six-lane bridge will also be constructed over the Son River at Khangaon. Circle Officer Uday Pratap Singh stated that a request has already been sent to the Land Acquisition Department to provide compensation at residential rates to farmers whose land has houses built on it.

Action will be taken at the departmental level in accordance with the rules, and all possible assistance will be extended to the affected farmers.